Gift bag operable with one or more hangers

ABSTRACT

A gift bag is described that includes a top panel having a centrally located slot formed therein, a bag body extending downward from the top panel to form a substantial enclosure, and a reinforcing material adjacent the top panel. The reinforcing material is placed so as to not interfere with said centrally located slot and the slot is sized to allow a rod engaging member of a hanger to pass therethrough.

BACKGROUND

The field of the disclosure relates generally to gift wrapping, and morespecifically, to a gift bag operable with one or more hangers.

The gift bag fabricated from a material that resembles gift wrappingpaper has become well known and can be found in many different shapesand sizes. They may include, for example, a ribbon, paper or twinematching handles that extends from two sides of the bag. In other giftbags, the handles are provided by forming two oval or other shaped holeson opposite sides of the bag through which a user can extend theirfingers.

Often, an article of clothing is given as a gift. Retailers onceprovided shoppers with a box into which the item may be placed, so thatthe gift giving purchaser might wrap the box with wrapping paper, as iscommonly known. However, the receipt of a complimentary gift box is lessprevalent than it once was, and purchasers are less likely to purchaseboth a gift box to hold one or more articles of clothing in addition tothe wrapping paper used to wrap the gift box, hence the increasingpopularity of the gift bag.

The simplicity of concealing a gift item within a gift bag has made theuse of gift bags very popular. However, for articles of clothing to begiven as a gift, placing those within the gift bag may lead to awrinkled or otherwise disheveled look to the clothing article when thereceiver of the gift extracts the article from the gift bag. The reasonsare simple. Such articles cannot be hung in the conventional gift bagand thus are typically placed about the bottom of the bag. When givingmultiple items as a gift, such items are then typically stacked withinthe gift bag, further leading to the wrinkling and disheveled appearancedescribed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, a gift bag is described that includes a top panel havinga centrally located slot formed therein, a bag body extending downwardfrom the top panel to form a substantial enclosure, and a reinforcingmaterial adjacent the top panel. The reinforcing material is placed soas to not interfere with said centrally located slot and the slot issized to allow a rod engaging member of a hanger to pass therethrough.

In another aspect, a gift bag having a bag body comprising a paperproduct is provided. The bag body defines a perimeter and includes a topedge. Portions of the top edge are attached together such that the bagbody forms a substantial enclosure. A separate portion of the top edgeis not attached together such that a slot is formed. The slot is sizedto allow a rod engaging member of a hanger to pass therethrough. Thepaper product includes a decorative pattern printed thereon.

In still another aspect, a gift bag comprising a bag body is provided.The bag body includes a paper product having a decorative patternprinted thereon, the bag body defining a perimeter. The bag body furtherincludes a top portion that is folded and adhered together to form asubstantially rectangular top panel. The bag body further includes acentrally located slot formed in the top panel that is sized to allow arod engaging member of a hanger to pass therethrough.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a depiction of a garment suspended on a hanger.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a gift bag with the bar engaging portionof the hanger of FIG. 1 extending therethrough.

FIG. 3 is a view of a gift bag that incorporates a gift tag and an outersleeve.

FIG. 4 is a view of a gift bag that does not incorporate a top panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a depiction of a garment 10 suspended on a hanger 20. Thegarment 10 shown is a one piece garment that is typically worn by asmall child. The hanger 20 is shown in hidden view and is of the typethat gives support to a majority of the garment 10. Such a hanger 20 iscommon in regard to children's clothing, though use of the common andsubstantially triangular hanger may be utilized with the garment 10.Except for the most specialized hanger systems, a hanger incorporates abar engaging portion 30. These bar engaging portions 30 are generallycircular as is well known so that the portion 30 can be placed across ahanger rod within a closet, the typical hanger rod being substantiallycircular in cross-section. However, it should be understood that theherein described embodiments contemplate hangers and bar engagingportions that are small in size as compared to the common clothinghanger, such as would be utilized with jewelry, as well as hangers andbar engaging portions that are oversized as compared to clothinghangers.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a gift bag 100 with the bar engagingportion 30 of the hanger 20 of FIG. 1 extending therethrough. Gift bag100 solves the above described problems in regard to known gift bags asutilization of gift bag 100 allows for items “wrapped” within gift bag100, such as articles of clothing, to remain suspended from a devicesuch as hanger 20.

To provide such functionality, gift bag 100 incorporates a bag body 110which extends downward from a substantially rectangular top panel 120.In embodiments, bag body 110 substantially surrounds an item placedwithin bag 100. In at least one embodiment, top panel 120 incorporates asubstantially centrally located slot 130 formed therethrough. In use,hanger 20 is passed through the bag body 100, and eventually the barengaging portion 30 of the hanger 20 is passed through the slot 130 asshown. In at least one embodiment, top panel 120 and bag body 110 areintegrally formed from a product, for example a paper product, portionsof the paper product folded and glued to form top panel 120.

The typical hanger includes members that extend from the bar engagingportion which can be referred to as a left shoulder and a rightshoulder. When used with an upper torso garment, for example a shirt,these shoulders are covered by portions of the garment, again forexample, the shoulder portions of a shirt. When bar engaging portion 30extends through slot 130, the shoulders of the hanger 20 will eventuallycome to engage a bottom surface 140 of the top panel 120. Thus, when thegift bag is utilized together with a hanger, the gift will essentiallybe suspended by the shoulders of the hanger(s) therein.

In at least one embodiment, top panel 120 includes a reinforcing member150 which, depending on the configuration, may include a correspondingslot therethrough intended to correspond with slot 130. As in manyembodiments bag 100 is fabricated from a paper product, reinforcingmember 150 operates to prevent or reduce the occurrence of tearing oftop panel 120. In embodiments, reinforcing material is fabricated fromone of poster board, cardboard, or a semi-rigid plastic sheet material.A fold line 160 is shown to indicate that the gift bag 100 may be foldedwhen not in use such that the top panel is substantially coplanar with afront panel of the gift bag 100.

The multiple embodiments of gift bag 100 include embodiments that arelarger (and smaller) in one or more of width, depth, and height tocorrespond with the many garments types and sizes (as well asnon-garment items that are suspended from hanging devices) available inthe marketplace. Embodiments of gift bag 100 are contemplated that willhold many garments and their corresponding hangers. In such embodiment,a width of slot 130 may be expanded such that two, five, or ten or moreof bar engaging portion 30 to pass threrethrough.

FIG. 3 is a view of a gift bag 200 functionally similar to gift bag 100,but that incorporating a gift tag 202 and an outer sleeve 204, bothattached to an outer surface 210 of bag body 110. For clarity, a hangeror a garment is not shown in FIG. 3. In the illustrated embodiment, gifttag 202 includes a bottom portion 220 attached to the bag 200 and a topflap 222 that extends from the bottom portion 220 along a fold line 224.Generally, gift tag 202 is used by a user of the gift bag 200 to writewho the gift is “to” and who the gift is “from”, though other messagesmay be written thereon. Gift tag 202 can be fabricated in many differentsizes and shapes, for example, to correspond with a theme (e.g., babyshower, birthday). Outer sleeve 204 is essentially a pocket on theoutside of bag 200. Outer sleeve 204 also may be fabricated in manysizes for example to hold a gift card envelope 230, or many other items.In one embodiment, gift bag 200 may include a retail hanger 240adhesively attached to a back side of bag 200, allowing for the displayof gift bag 200 in a retail setting, for example, from a display onwhich multiple gift bags 200 are deployed on a “peg” type display. Theretail hanger 240 may be fabricated from paper products, a clearplastic, or a colored plastic that matches a decorative pattern printedon the bag. The retail hanger 240 may be attached with an adhesive thatallows it to be easily removed from the bag 200 or it may be permanentlyattached to the bag 200. Gift hanger 240 may be fabricated in any sizeas long as it is sized to interface with the device from which the giftbag 200 is displayed. A fold line 260 is shown and serves the samepurpose as fold line 160 (shown in FIG. 2) which is described above. Itshould be understood that all embodiments of gift bags described hereincan be equipped with none, any, or all of the features described withrespect to gift bag 200.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of gift bag 400 that does not incorporate a toppanel. In such an embodiment, tops 410 and 412 of opposite facingportions of a bag body 420 are adhered to one another except for an area430 where the tops 410 and 412 are not adhered which provides an opening432 for the rod engaging portion 30 of hanger 20 to pass through. Insuch an embodiment, the shoulder portions of the hanger 20 will directlyengage the bag body 420 rather than a top panel or reinforcing materialas described above. It is contemplated that the embodiment of gift bag400 be utilized when few items are “wrapped” therein and may be utilizedfewer times since there is no reinforcing material to prevent ripping ofthe bag material. However, in all embodiments, the gift bag isconfigured such that the rod engaging member may pass through a slot atthe top of the gift bag, so that the gift bag and its contents may behung using the hanger. Gift bag 400 is shown with a decorative pattern.The gift bags 100 and 200 described above are also contemplated to haveprinting, for example, a decorative pattern printed thereon. For clarityin describing the various mechanical and functional features of suchgift bags, decorative patterns are not included in those figures.

The above described embodiments of gift bags may be fabricated frompaper products, plastic products, metallic foil, or a combinationthereof. In one embodiment, the gift bags are fabricated from a thinpaper product similar to common wrapping paper. In other embodiments,the gift bags may be a multi-layered paper product including a coatingthereon which provides a certain amount of resistance to liquids. Such acoating, or another coating material, may be utilized to provide aglossy finish to the gift bag. The gift bag embodiments described hereinare intended to “wrap” gifts, and as such, it should be understood thatany number of decorative patterns, colors, and motifs can be printedonto the materials that constitute the bag, the bag body, and the toppanel.

While described herein as having a portion of a hanger passing through aslot in the top of the gift bag, it is further contemplated that thedescribed gift bag embodiments can be utilized with other gift items.For example, a gift item that includes a handle, such as a purse orbriefcase could take advantage of the gift bags by passing the handle ofthe purse or briefcase through the slot at the top. As mentionedelsewhere herein, embodiments of the gift bags may be sized tocorrespond with the items they are meant to conceal. For example,smaller items that are suspended from a small hanger type device, suchas jewelry or hosiery, would in turn utilize a gift bag that is smallerin overall size. Over sized items, for example, a set of automobilefloor mats that are attached together using a cardboard or plastichanging device, would in turn utilize a gift bag that is larger inoverall size.

Though not shown in the figures, the various gift bags described hereinmay include indicia printed thereon, such as a company logo, oralphanumeric text indicating a source of the gift bag instead of or inaddition to a decorative pattern. In an embodiment, such indicia arelocated at an inconspicuous location, such as a side area that may befolded, but away from a bottom edge of the bag so that such indicia maynot be cut away by simply reducing a “length” of the gift bag.

It is further contemplated that a manufacturer or supplier of such giftbags may be supplying the described gift bags to a third party, such asa retailer, for end use by the retailer. In such embodiments, a logo orother indicia that relates to the third party may be printed on the bagin a conspicuous location so that a person receiving items that arewrapped in such a gift bag is made aware of the retailer from which thegift was purchased. Such indicia may be in addition to or instead of adecorative pattern. Such indicia would also be printed in a locationthat is distant from the bottom edge of the bag so that such indicia maynot be cut away by simply reducing a “length” of the gift bag. In suchembodiment, the above described gift tag 202 and outer sleeve 204 maynot be utilized, or at least placed in locations on the gift bags so asto not interfere with the third party indicia.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope isdefined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur tothose skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be withinthe scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do notdiffer from the literal language of the claims, or if they includeequivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from theliteral languages of the claims.

1. A gift bag comprising: a top panel comprising a centrally locatedslot formed therein, said slot sized to allow a rod engaging member of ahanger to pass therethrough; a bag body extend downward from said toppanel to form a substantial enclosure; and a reinforcing materialadjacent said top panel, said reinforcing material placed so as to notinterfere with said centrally located slot.
 2. A gift bag according toclaim 1 wherein said top panel and said bag body comprise at least oneof a paper product and a plastic product.
 3. A gift bag according toclaim 1 wherein said top panel and said bag body are integrally formedfrom a product that is folded and glued to form said top panel.
 4. Agift bag according to claim 1 wherein said top panel is substantiallyrectangular.
 5. A gift bag according to claim 4 wherein said reinforcingmaterial comprises a shape and size similar to said top panel, saidreinforcing material comprising a slot formed therein aligned with saidtop panel slot.
 6. A gift bag according to claim 1 wherein saidreinforcing material comprises at least one of poster board, cardboard,and a semi-rigid plastic sheet material.
 7. A gift bag according toclaim 1 wherein said bag body comprises at least one of a gift tag andan outer sleeve attached thereto.
 8. A gift bag according to claim 1wherein said bag body comprises at least one of a wrapping papermaterial, a multi-layered paper product, a paper product comprising acoating thereon which provides at least some resistance to liquids, anda coating material that provides a glossy finish.
 9. A gift bagaccording to claim 1 wherein said bag body comprises a decorativepattern printed thereon.
 10. A gift bag according to claim 1 whereinsaid bag body is sized to substantially cover a garment suspended on ahanger operatively placed within said gift bag.
 11. A gift bagcomprising a bag body comprising a paper product, said bag body defininga perimeter, said bag body comprising a top edge, portions of said topedge attached together such that said bag body forms a substantialenclosure, a portion of said top edge not attached together such that aslot is formed, the slot sized to allow a rod engaging member of ahanger to pass therethrough, said paper product comprising a decorativepattern printed thereon.
 12. A gift bag according to claim 11 whereinsaid bag body comprises at least one of a gift tag and an outer sleeveattached thereto.
 13. A gift bag according to claim 11 wherein saidpaper product comprises at least one of a wrapping paper material, amulti-layered paper product, a paper product comprising a coatingthereon which provides at least some resistance to liquids, and acoating material that provides a glossy finish.
 14. A gift bag accordingto claim 11 wherein said bag body is sized to substantially cover agarment suspended on a hanger operatively placed within said gift bag.15. A gift bag according to claim 11 further comprising a reinforcingmaterial, said reinforcing material placed so as to reinforce an area ofsaid bag body proximate the slot.
 16. A gift bag comprising a bag bodycomprising: a paper product having a decorative pattern printed thereon,said bag body defining a perimeter, said bag body comprising a topportion, said top portion of said bag body folded and adhered togetherto form a substantially rectangular top panel; and a centrally locatedslot formed in the top panel, said slot sized to allow a rod engagingmember of a hanger to pass therethrough.
 17. A gift bag according toclaim 16 further comprising a reinforcing material, said reinforcingmaterial placed so as to reinforce an area of said top panel proximatesaid centrally located slot.
 18. A gift bag according to claim 17wherein said reinforcing material comprises a shape and size similar tosaid top panel, said reinforcing material comprising a slot formedtherein aligned with said centrally located slot.
 19. A gift bagaccording to claim 16 wherein said bag body comprises at least one of agift tag and an outer sleeve attached thereto.
 20. A gift bag accordingto claim 16 wherein said paper product comprises at least one of awrapping paper material, a multi-layered paper product, a paper productcomprising a coating thereon which provides at least some resistance toliquids, and a coating material that provides a glossy finish.